Humidor.



L. A. SMITH;

HUMIDOR.

APPLICATION FILED IULY l4, l9l4. 1,298,415. Patented Mar. 25, 1919;

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A TTOR/VEYS L. A. SMITH.

HUMIDOR- I APPLICATION FILEDJULY |4.1914. 1,298,415, Patented Mar. 25,1919.

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Illllml ATTORNEYS LAWRENCE A. SMITH, OF PORT GIBSON, MISSISSIPPI.

HUMID OB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

Application filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 850,939.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. SMITH, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of Port Gibson, in the county of Claiborne and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Humidors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in humidors, and has for its object to provide a humidor for simultaneously moistening and flavoring cigars and like articles, wherein one or more holders for flavoring extracts are provided, each having a valve normally closed and provided with a receiver for engagement by the end of the cigar to open the valve, and having means for driving a blast of air through the flask and through the flavoring extract and through the valve into the cigar.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the improved humidor, partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the cover removed,

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the containers, with parts broken away,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the stopper of one of the containers,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a cover plate,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a modified construction,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the supporting plate for the cutters. and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a modified construction.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a box-like container 1 is provided. of suitable size and capacity, and provided with a cover plate comprising a body 2, having a depending continuous flange 3, which engages outside of the top of the container 1 to close the same. The interior of the easing is divided by a longitudinal partition 4 and a series of transverse partitions 5, into a series of rectangular compartments 6 at one side of the casing. and a compartment 7 at the other side extending the full length of the casing. 1

The partitions 4 and 5 do not extend to the top of the casing, but merely a little more than half way from the top to the bottom. In each of the compartments 6 a flask or bottle 8 is placed, each of the said flasks being of elliptical cross section as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, and having a reduced neck 9, provided with the usual annular external rlb 10 at its upper end.

The bottles or flasks 8 are of such size that they approximately fill the compartments, and the compartments are so arranged that the bottles are held with their long axes approximately parallel. A stopper 11 is provided for closing each flask or bottle, and each stopper is provided with a plurality of transverse openings and with an extended marginal rib 12, at its upper end. In one of the openings one of the arms 13 of an elbow is inserted, the lower end of the arm being flush with the under face of the stopper, and the other arm 13 of the elbow is externally threaded as shown in Figs. 3 and- 4.

A substantially cylindrical casing 14 is arranged in the other opening, and the lower end of the casing is externally threaded and is closed by a cap 15. The upper end of the casing 14 and the cap 15 are provided with registering openings through which extends a tube 16, and a funnel 17 of rubber or like material is engaged with the upper end of the tube. The lower end of the tube 16 is closed by a head 18, the head extending beyond the periphery of the tube, and a packing ring or gasket 19 is arranged on that portion of the upper face of the head outside of the tube 16.

The tube is provided with radial ports 20,

near its lower end, and with an annular rib 21, intermediate its ends and within the casing 14. A coil spring 22 is arranged between the cap 15 and the rib 21. the spring acting normally .to lift the tube to cause the ring 19 to contact with the outer face of the cap 15. When the tube 16 is in normal position the openings 20 are within the casing 14, so that the tube is in effect a valve, the valve casing being constituted by the casing 14.

A glass tube 23 is inserted in the arm 13 of the elbow, and the said tube 23 extends from the upper face of the stopper 11 to near the bottom of the flask as shown in Fig. 3. The threaded ends 13* of the elbow are connected to a pipe 24, extending longitudinally of the casing above the compartment 7, by means of branch pipes 25, the pipe 24 having a branch for each flask, and

unions 26 are provided for connecting the branches with the elbWs.1 1 U The pipe 24 has its inner end closed; the

other end extends through the end of thecasirg, and is externally threaded as show-n in Figs. 1 and The pipe 24 is supported by the end wall through .whichitextends, and by an angle bracket' 27 at the other end,

the said bracket being secured to one of .the sidewalls of the casing. The threaded end of the pipe 24 is adapted for engage- .ment to an air pump as for instance, the

;; v,funnell? of the flask containing the-desired flavor, and downward pressure is exerted on 'thecigarft-omove the tube 16 longiports 20} below i the cap l5.

tudi-nallya su flicient distance to bring the The bulb-of the airpump is then coniljfa ce ofthe. plate in spaced relation.

pressed, audit. will-be evident that the blast of air will be blown through the pipe .24: .and throughthat, branch-2501f the pipe [which communicates with the flask 7 whose valve. is; open; 1 Theblast will enter the flask beneath the level ofthe flavoring extract, 'and the air will escape upwardly ;-through 35 with moisture laden withthe desired flavor.

The air will be drawn out through the ports.

andthroughthe ti1be-16 intoand through fthe'flavori-ng extract, :becoming impregnated the cigar, thus thoroughly moistening,- and flayorin'g' the same. g I Each stopper'lli preferably secured to 1 the flaskto preventitbeingj blown out by the blast of air by means ofythe holder shownin Fig. 5 Thisholder comprises a plate 28. having one end rounded and the other recessed, andat the side edges and the rou1'1ded*f endf ,the plate is provided with a laterally, extending rib "29, and the free rdge'of theiribgis bent laterally inward as shoivntoform a flange 30, underlying the Thefribjis of. such heightthat the flange will engage beneath the .rib 10 of the, botftle neck at the sidesand atone end of the 'said neck. The opposite end of .the plate is ,as before stated, recessedas shown at 31, to "fit around the casing l b/The holdersthus bind the stoppersto'theneck of the bottle, so that the blast of air will not force the, stopper out of the bottle. Ifdesired, a single flask may be used'as shown in Fig, '8,

' wherein thearm 18 of'the'elbow is engaged directly by the pump. The construction is a precisely the same. as" the flasks" shown ,in *ldigs. land-2.

- -Preferably the construction shown in 'F-igsl and g2 is'connected to a compressed air receiver, the connection being made with the outer end of the pipe 24 so that the only operation required by the user is to depress the valve of the container havingthe preferred character of flavoring extract.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1, that the tube 16 extends through the body 2 of the cover, the said body h'avingan Qopening for each tube. The cover'thus not only closes the container or casing 1, but in addition-has the function of a'stop for limiting the downward movement of the receiver 17 for the cigars.

In Fig. 6 a case 35 is shown for holding several cigars indicated at 86. The case'is provided with the usual cover 37, fitting over oneend of the same, and theopposite end is .open and beaded as 'show'nat 38. An auxiliary chamber in the form of acap or head 39 is connected with, the case at the end adjacent to the rib 38, the said head or cap having a flange 4E0, fitting over the end of the case outside of the same. y

The head is provided wi'th an internal annular rib 41, forlimiting the movement of the said head toward'the case 35, and a supporting plate 42 arrangedjbetvveen the bead 38 of theease and th'e rib of the head or cap, a gasket ;or packin'gring43 beingplacedbetween the rib and thesupporting plate. fl The supporting a series of funnel-shaped supportsee, each flofwhich has 'a cylindrical portion 45, which fits around a nipple4c6, extending through plate 13 -is provided'with the supporting plate 43-. Each of the nipple's 46 is tubular, and each nipple. is-provided with a tubular extension 47, extending longitudinally of the adj acent support 44 at the axis thereof and to near ,theupper end of-thev said support.

A triangular cutting the endof each of the extensions, the said ,blade being in position to puncture the I mouth piece end of the cigar 36,.wh-ich .isinserted in the said support. The capor head 39 is. designed to contain absorbent material as indicated at 419, and thesaid n aterial is saturated with the flavoring extract desired for flavoring thecigar. I i .E'ach nipple 4:6 and its 4 atalljtimes, so that the airladen with the flavoring extract maypass from the interior .of the head or cap 39, through thenipple and the extension into the interior of the cigar, to flavor the same. When the. cigars 36 are. inserted in the'supports 44;, each cigar .is puncturedby the blade .48, and the said blade and the extension 47 extends into the cigar in such manner that the flavoring. ex-

blade 48 is securedto extension is open tract may pass from the headv or cap 39 int0 for pocket use for holding several cigars and the head is provided with an inlet valve casing 50, for admitting air to the head. The casing 50 is internally threaded at its outer end for receiving a plug 51, for closing the casing, and the plug has a transverse kerf for receiving a screw driver or the like to remove and replace the plug.

The casing is also provided with a diaphragm 52, having an opening forming a valve seat against'which seats a disk valve 53. The valve is provided with a stem 54:, which is guided by a spider 55 in the valve casing, and a coil spring 56 normally holds the valve closed, the spring encircling the stem between the spider and a head 57 on the stem.

If desired, the valve may be omitted, and a pump may be used for forcing air through the head and the nipples into the cigars. The said pump is shown in Fig. 6, comprising a bulb 58, provided with a valve controlled inlet and having a'tubular extension 59, which may be engaged with the threaded portion of the casing 50. The extension 59 may be arranged to open the valve, or the valve may be opened by the current of air under pressure forced through the flexible tube 59 into the head or cap 39.

With this arrangement, the cigars are at all times in such position that they may receive a portion of the flavoring extract, and the pump 58 may be used if desired, to more thoroughly flavor the cigars. The cap or head 39 is held in place on the casing by means of resilient catches 60, the said catches engaging openings 61 in the flange 40 of the head or cap.

In Fig. 10 mechanism is shown for flavoring cigarettes. The said mechanism comprises a casing 62, designed to contain absorbent material 63, for holding the flavoring extract, and the outer end of the casing is closed as indicated at 64, but is provided with a central port 65. A guide 66 for the cigarette encircles the port, being coaxial therewith, and a cap 67 is provided for closing the end of the casing having the guide and the port, the said cap being threaded on to the casing.

The cap is also provided with an internal extension 68, having a conical head for closing the port 65 when the cap is in place. The cap also covers the guide 66. At the opposite end a supporting sleeve 69 is threaded into the casing 62, the said sleeve having a diaphragm 70, provided with a central opening into which is threaded a valve casing 71. A valve 72 within the casing cooperates with the seat, and the valve has a stem which is guided in the casing and is encircled by a spring which acts to hold the valve closed.

A pump in the form of a bulb 73 of flexible material is designed to be connected to the sleeve 69. The bulb has a vulcanized portion 73, which is threaded into the sleeve, and at the opposite end the bulb is provided with a valve controlled inlet 74.

In the use of the improved construction, when it is desired to flavor a cigarette, the cap 67 is removed, and the cigarette is placed in the guide 66 with one end in contact with the closed end 64 of the casing. The bulb 73 is then squeezed, and it will be evident that a current of air laden with flavoring extract will be driven into the cigarette, thus thoroughly flavoring the same.

I claim:

1. A device of the character specified, com prising a receptacle for flavoring extract, means for introducing gas under pressure into the extract in the receptacle to cause the gas to become impregnated with the extract, a cigar receiving element provided with means for establishing communication with the interior of the receptacle to guide the impregnated gas into and through the interior of the cigar, said cigar receiving element being spring supported and movable under the pressure of the cigar, and valve mechanism normally closing the communication between the receptacle and the said element and controlled by the movement of the said element.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a receptacle for flavoring extract, means for introducing air under pressure into the extract in the receptacle to cause the air to become impregnated with the extract, and a cigar receiving element having communication with the interior of the receptacle and provided with means to introduce the impregnated air into the cigar adjacent to the tip, whereby said flavored gas is caused by the air pressure to flow through the entire length of the cigar from the tip to the open or tuck end.

LAWRENCE A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

C. E. TRAINoR, C. M. FORREST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G." 

